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Sunday, 7 January 2018

Zee Classic Celebrates the Best of ‘Musical Entertainer’ Nasir Hussain This January

We Indians love binge-watching. There is no household where you won't find a die-hard movie lover. I personally love musical drama touching the right chord of my heart. I got exposed to cinema at an early age as my dad is an admirer of old classic numbers. I didn't realize when I developed a strong liking for romantic movie of the era that appealed a large audience forever. An iconic name who made a mark in Indian cinema and has been a trendsetter in the industry is Nasir Hussain.

The legendary producer- director, Nasir Hussain has given Indian audiences hit after hit. The man
known to be the founder of the Indian masala film did not just set a trend but paved a path for
commercial Indian cinema as it stands today. With movies like Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Teesir Manzil,
Hum Kisise Kum Nahin or even his magnum opus Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak; this visionary producer-director used the formula of great music plus high impact drama plus star power to catapult his movies to become major box-office successes and winning him the title of ‘Musical Entertainer’.

Born on 16th November, 1926, Nasir Hussain has had a career that spans over five decades in
which he has brought entertaining, dramatic and path breaking movies to the silver-screen. With
several superhit films to his credit, Nasir Hussain had seldom created a movie that has failed to
impress. Celebrating his journey in the industry, Zee Classic, with its proposition Woh ZamanaKare Deewana, has curated over a month-long series of Nasir Hussain’s greatest hits under the
banner ‘Nasir Hussain Film Festival’. This series that airs every Sunday at 12 noon, starting 7 thJanuary; will take viewers on a journey highlighting his long and illustrious career.

Nasir Hussain was the father of Mansoor Khan, uncle of Aamir Khan and grand-father of Imran Khan. Although the ‘Musical Entertainer’ is no longer with us, his movies still live on.

The ‘Nasir Hussain Film Festival’ will kick off with his debut formula film ‘Yaadon Ki Baaraat’
starring Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman as the main leads. Combining elements of action, drama, romance, musical, crime and thriller, this iconic movie became the first of what we now consider truly Bollywood-esque movies. This movie was also the start to an extremely profitable relationship
between Nasir Hussain and R.D Burman and features classic melodies like Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne
Jo Dil Ko, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil and of course the title track Yaadon Ki Baarat. Yaadon Ki Baarat was not just Nasir Hussain’s debut film, it was also the debut film for Aamir Khan who has risen to be one of the biggest actor-producers of the country.
Next in line is the 1977 Super-hit Hum Kisise Kum Nahin starring Rishi Kapoor, Kaajal Kiran, Tariq Khan, Amjad Khan, Zeenat Aman, Om Shivpuri, Jalal Agha and Tom Alter. This movie features songs by veteran singers Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhonsle including Bachna Ae Haseeno, Yeh Ladka Hai Allah Kaisa Hai, Hai Agar Dushman (Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahi) and Mil Gaya Hum Ko Saathi to name a few. While the music of Mamamia was used as the inspiration for Mil Gaya Hum Ko Saathi, ABBA’s Honey Honey also features in the movie and can be seen playing in the background just before the song ‘Kya Hua Tera Waada’ begins.

Teesri Manzil, another box office success and features prominently amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films by Indiatimes Movies. The movie starring Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh, along with Premnath, Prem Chopra and Helen. The movie once again underscores Nasir Hussain’s title as the musical entertainer with 70’s pop classics like Oh Mere Sona Re Sona Re and O Haseena Zulfonwali Jaane Jahan. Salim Khan prolific screen writer and Salman Khan’s father, plays a cameo role as Shammi Kapoor;s musician friend who pretends to be Rocky in the musical number ‘Oh Haseena zulfon waali’.

Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai was Padmini Kolhapure’s debut movie and featured Rishi Kapoor as the
main lead. The music of the movie, composed by Rahul Dev (R.D.) Burman features evergreen hits
like Dil Lena Khel Hai Dildar Ka, Hoga Tumse Pyaara Kaun and Poocho Na Yaar Kya Hua amongst
others. While Dil Lena Khel Hai Dildar Ka was one of the lesser known hits from the movie, itbecame a rage in the late 80’s and 90’s as a very futuristic electro / techno hit.

No tribute to Nasir Hussain would be complete without featuring his magnum opus - the 1988 releaseQayamat Se Qayamat Tak. This cult classic propelled the lead pair Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla to
superstars overnight. Each song from the movie be it Papa Kehte Hai, Ae Mere Humsafar, Akele Hai
to Kya Ghum Hai or Gazab Ka Hai Din resonate deeply and became 80’s iconic hits that have been
references in movies even today. The iconic Papa Kehte Hai has featured in more than threemovies besides the original including Hum Saath Saath Hai, Andaz Apna Apna and Student ofthe Year.

One could go one forever reminiscing the memories that Nasir Hussain movies invoke, however why waste time when we can watch the best from the best and relive those memories.

To entertain viewers with unheard stories of Nasir Hussian and enhance their movie-viewing
experience, Zee Classic has also curated special features revolving around the life of the
legendary filmmaker. It includes views of stalwarts of Indian cinema like Salim Khan, JavedAkhtar, Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Jhulka, Prem Chopra, Dalip Tahil, and Lalit Panditamongst others. These special features along with additional exclusive interviews will be
showcased during the telecast of movies on Zee Classic.

Actress Juhi Chawla who shot to fame with Nasir Hussain’s classic, Qayamat Se Qayamat
Tak said, “I met Nasir sir for the first time when he invited me to his office for Qayamat Se
Qayamat Tak. To me Nasir Hussain was a very big name at that time, he made grand films
and the music was always amazing, so I didn’t question him and signed the contract. Nasir
sir took a big decision of producing a film with new actors, new musicians and songs that
were very different from those people heard during the time of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.
The movie had some magic in it.”

Actor Dalip Tahil, “I am very fortunate to have worked with Nasir Hussain at the beginning of
my Bollywood journey which was a good break for me and transformed my career
completely. Nasir Hussain had written the story of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak himself and
he was confident that it will impress the audience. It is because of the content that the movie
performed exceptionally well and is now termed as a classic. He considered every nitty-gritty
of the movie like the romance and dialogue delivery and blended it so beautifully, the movie
seemed picture perfect,” shared his thoughts.

Reminiscing some of the actor’s great work, writer Salim Khan said, “I have a lot of respect forhim as filmmaker, director, and producer. He is the first person to give love stories a comictwist and made highly entertaining movies. Prior to that romantic actors had a tragicappearance. It was always a pleasure to work with Nasir Hussain and as a writer himself; he would understand what I was trying to say. He also had a good sense of humour and hisstrength was incorporating that sense of humor in his work and movies. The best movie ofNasir Hussain according to me is Yaadon Ki Baaraat and he would say the same himself.”